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LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mayfield Science Teacher Selected for HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador Academy

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This month, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) selected Alexis Black, a science teacher at Mayfield High School as a member for the 2020-2023 BioInteractive Ambassador Academy.  

            Black has been an educator for more than 22-years, joining Las Cruces Public Schools in 2012. She currently teaches freshmen Honors Biology and AP Biology to juniors and seniors. Black said she loves watching her students dive into a problem and try to come up with a solution or design an experiment. She believes that even if an experiment fails, there is always something to learn. 

            Black was among 30 high school/undergraduate educators in 22 states — including Canada, to be invited to take part in a professional development designed to spread inclusive and equitable science teaching practices that incorporate HHMI classroom resources, approach, and values. 

            “By being part of this academy, I’ll become better at giving professional development, and it will help bring those kinds of resources to southern New Mexico,” Black said. “We don’t get a lot of high-quality science professional development down here – you have to go to either Albuquerque or El Paso — but hopefully through this process, we can get some more HHMI training here for our teachers.” 

            The Academy provides professional learning workshops and online courses that provide access for all students and incorporates research-supported teaching strategies in combination with BioInteractive classroom resources that actively engage learners in science practices. 

            “Ms. Black is one of the most innovative and dynamic teachers I have ever had the pleasure to work with,” said Mayfield Principal Eric Fraass. “She constantly finds new ways for her students to interact with the curriculum. Her dedication to her students and learning is truly inspiring.” 

            Upon completion of the Academy, cohort members like Black will join the Ambassador community and help to design and facilitate BioInteractive professional learning experiences for other educators, serve as program advisors, and contribute to BioInteractive content as developers, reviewers, and field testers.  

            “Ms. Black is a huge asset for our district,” said LCPS Superintendent Dr. Karen Trujillo. “She maintains high expectations for her students and has been instrumental in supporting fellow teachers with online learning. When excellence is recognized, it makes us all proud.” 

Alexis Black, Las Cruces Public Schools

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